Counting mechanism



Aug; 16, 1949. I o. EDLER COUNTING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 27. 71945 Aug. 16, 1949. o. EDLER 2,479,482

v COUNTING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 27, 1945 5 SheetsSheet 2 a & awmg x Q Aug. 16, 1949. o. EDLER 2,479,482

COUNTING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 27, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 W gag/Q I A /fl Aug. 16, 1949. o, EDLER 2,479,482

COUNTING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 27, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 16, 1949. EDLER 2,479,482

COUNTING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 27, 1 945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jay].

Patented Aug. 16, 1949 2,479,482 COUNTING MECHANISM Otto Edler, London, England, assignor to Soag Machinery Company, Soag Machine Tools Ltd.

(Proprietors), Lambeth, London, England Application February 2'7, 1945, Serial No. 580,000 In Great Britain March 15, 1944 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in counting mechanism intended to afford an indication of a countedbatch in a succession of ar-- ticles. with the counting of the products of a printing or processing machine as they are delivered fromthe machine to a pile or stack delivery.

The main object. of this invention is to provide a counting mechanism which will be reliable in use, adaptable for ready fitting to various types of machine and capable ofeasy adjust ment for difierent numbers of articles to be contained in the indicated count.

In carrying the invention intoeffect the mechanism utilises an adjustable step-by-step counting mechanism tobe operated by the articles as they pass in succession (or by some part operated synchronously with such passages) and anelectrical contact; arrangement for controlling the circuit of an electrically operable means of: affording the desired count indication in the sue-- cession of articles, the contact arrangement. being itself under the control of the counting. mechanism. While the counting mechanism can itself be operated by a mechanical transmission, it is preferred here again to be nonmechanical (e. g. by electrical or fluid-pressure transmission) having the advantage of flexibility in fitting.

The adjustment of the count can be ellected by varying the relative starting position of the contact devices and of the-mechanism by which the contact devices are operated through the counting mechanism. The adjustment may however be provided for by employing a pre-- setting mechanism-similar to the'counting mechanism, the two mechanisms conjointly control.- ling the contact devices and being so arranged that only when the partsof the counting mechanism are at the same position as the parts of the pre-setting mechanism are the contact devices rendered operative. Such-an arrangement is illustrated in the accompanying drawingsinwhich Figures-l, 2, 3 and 4'are views of a counting unit, Figure 1 being a vertical sectional elevation, Fig ure 2 a transverse section onvthe line 11-11, Figure 1, Figure 3: a front elevation and FigureA a detail view of contact mechanism which is employed.

Figures 5, 6 and '7 are views of a slip'insertion unit which is controlled by the counting unit of Figures 1-4, Figure 5:being asection on the line V-V, Figure 7, Figure 6 being a section on the line- VI--V, Figure 7; with the cover: removed,

The invention is especially concerned and Figure '7- a plan view. Figure 8 is an end elevation of thesevering mechanism.

Figure 9 is a. sectional view of a modified slip inserting arrangement.

Referring firstly to Figures 1-4, the counting mechanism is of the wellknown type employing intergeared counting wheels so related that when one completes onerevolution it advances thenext revolution and so on. In the drawings a three wheel counter is shown and the counter wheels are indicated at l, 2 and 3 and as is usual these Wheels have numerals formed peripherally upon them for the purpose of indication, the intergearing of they wheelsbeing effected by gears indicated at 4. Further description of this. mechanism. isbelieved to be unnecesary as it is well known counting wheel type.

The counter (which is hereinafter referred to. generically-as C)- is. controlled in its operation-by an electromagnet 6 the armature l of which is pivoted at 8. The winding of this electromagnet is energised in step with. the delivery of the articles to be counted so that as each article passes the circuit of the electromagnet isenergised and the armature I is caused to swing upwardlyand then. upon de-energization of the electromagnet is. released. This movement of the armature I is utilised to operate the first wheel of the counter C through a link 9 which is pivoted at llltovthe armature I and is connected at its other end at llto a rocking lever !2 having a driving pawl l3=engaging teeth M on a disc fast with a gear l4 inmesh with a gear !4 also meshing with a. gear-f4 fast with the firstwheel l of the-counter G. Thus as successive electrical impulses are receivedby the electromagnet 6 the first wheel I of. the counter C is operated step by step, this wheel when the first ten articles have passed efiecting-rotation through the gears 4 of the wheel 2- through 1 of a revolut on and so on. Thusthe counter'C- affordsan indication by thenumeralson theperipheries of its wheels I, 2 and 3' of the number of articleswhich have passed, these numerals being visible through a window' l5 formed in a casing IS in which the mechanism of this counting unit is contained.

In order nowto arrange the mechanism so that when a predetermined number of articles has passedthere shall beeffected some operation whichwill-afiord a-n-indicatio'n'of that number of articles, there is provided a second counterD comprising wheels corresponding to the wheels I", 2-and 3 of=the%counter: C, these discs however not being intergeared but being capable of individual adjustment through an opening I l in the 3 4 casin It to pre-set this second or pre-setting controlling elfect of the closed circuit shall be counter to a position corresponding to the numapplied only when the electromagnet 6 is deber of articles required to be indicated or the energised, there is provided a further blade top cover [6 of the casing can be hinged as at 56 Witch 3!] the contacts 3| of which are closed to provide access to the discs of the counter D. only when the armature 1 is not attracted to the It is desired that when the number of articles core of the electromagnet the armature i being corresponding to that indicated by the setting for this purpose provided with a controlling counter has passed to a given point there shall finger 1.

be some operation which will aiTord an indication V For the purpose of re-setting the counter C of that number in the succession of articles; for it) at the time when the previous count has be this purpose the two counters C and D are emindicated in the manner hereinafter referred to, ployed to efiect a conjoint control of the indicatthere is employed a second electromagnet 32 ing mechanism that is to say one counter, i. e. which is energised by the completion of the indithe counter D is pre-set to the required number cating circuit in the manner referred to; the and the other counter i. e. the counter C, moves armature 33 of this electromagnet is pivoted at towards a corresponding position as'the articles 34 and is connected by a link 35 pivoted to the 7 successively pass and when both counters are in armature at 36 and pivoted also at 37 to a frame the same position then the indicating mechanism 38 itself pivoted at 39. This frame carries the is caused to operate. For this purpose each of spindle 40 on which the interconnecting gears the W el O 'b h of the Counters has 011 it go 4 and 5 and the gear H! are mounted; when at cam 8 the cams all beingsimilar; the various the conclusion of the counting operation the cams of the counter D each control espec vely electromagnet 32 is energised, the link 35 causes one arm is on a plate 20 having a slot 22 which the frame 38 to rock to take the gears 4 and 5 is pivotable and slidable on a fixed pin 2|, the on the spindle 40 out of mesh with the wheels p e being urged towards the cams ill by 3.5 I, 2 and 3 of the counter C so as to free them spring 20'. The cams l8 of the counter C each from restraint. In addition the frame 38 has control a second arm .23 f the pl e t ng extensions 39' one for each counting wheel and understood that there are three plates in the these extensions are shaped to engage with heart particular arrangement shown one for each of shape earns 40' each fast respectively with the the three counter wheels indicated in the draw 3; wheels 2 and 3 of the counter C. Th arran eing. These various plates each has secured to ment is such that the gears 4, 5 and 54 having it a component 24 of electrically insulating mabeen moved out of mesh with the counters I, 2 terial and this material has on it a metallic and 3, the same movement which efiects this strip which as shown in Figure 4 extends operation also brings the extensions 39' into D alongolle f o t e component 34 engagement with the respective cams 48' which, then through a slot in that component and then being heart shaped, are caused by t engagedown the other face. This component 24 extends meni; t return the counters 2 and 3 to their between COIItaCtS 23 d 29 011 the tWO blades 25 zero position in readiness for the next operation. f 7 of P btade f s, the three F If desired there maybe employed a push butswitches being n series in a controlling circuit to ton 4| by means of which the counter C can at for the indicating mechanism to be regulated any time be re set manually this button 4! by thecountmg mechaltlsmi operating a switch to close the circuit of the As will be seen from Figure 4, formation of the electromagnet 33 3 3 Surch 2 3 33? g g ggg g 5 It will now be seen that the mechanism so far Switches f Strip 25 g described provides a means for completing an electrical circuit (i. e. the circuit including the other position of the component 24 one or other Switches 5 and 30) b hich n 1e tri a1 of the contacts 28, 29 is in engagement not with W a e c c the metal strip 25 but with the insulating mapulse. can tranm1tted 9 the Purmse.

effecting an indicating operation; the means for terial of which the component 241$ formed. to r The arrangement of the parts is such that so effecting the operatlqn of the countet C m delong as any one cam '8 of the counting unit C pendence on th delivery of the articles to be is in a different position m that of h corre counted, would Include a circuit control switch Sponding cam '8 of Setting counter D, then for the electromagnet 6 and while this switch at least one of the components 24 will be away 55 could be {made to respond to the actual passage from the horizontal position. In other Words so of the articles themselves it could be operated by long as the cams [8 of the counter C are in difa component which in its movement is elated ferent angular positions from those of the cams to the Passage of t articles- Thus, in the IB of the counter D. the electrical circuit through particular case Where t invention s applied to the blade switches Will'bB open for at least one counting the Printed products as they pass from of the series connected switches. When now a Printing machine to a delivery p le. the W in the passage of the articles, the counter C mg of the electromaghet 5 could e energised reaches an indication corresponding exactly to through mo Control by a Switch a the indication oi the setting counter D all of e actuated by th p nt n cyl nd r r some the cams of both of the counters C and D will P yn hronised with it) of the printing mabe in exactly similar position and then the three Chine from which t e p duc t e Coun ed components 24 will also all bein the horizontal are delivered. However the switch could be position and at this time there will be a closed actuated by a mechanical transmission t u h circuit through the three blade switches. The t e remote electrical control arrangement s closure of this circuit is utilised to effect an indipreferred by reason of its flexibility. eating operation which will be hereinafter The indicating Operation re te y t described, counting mechanism described may take difier- In order that the closing of the circuit includout forms but one par i ul r application will ing the three switch h l] b ti d t th now be described where the indicating operation operation of the electromagnet' 6 so that the consists in inserting strips of paper between cer- '5 tain printed 'productsyas they pass to; a delivery pile from a printing machine.

Reference is nowmade to the mechanisms shown in Figures 5-8 in which an el'ectromagnet 42 (the circuit of which is initially energised by the impulse following upon the closing of the three switches-Sand'the switch 3t!) has'an armatore-43 which is pivoted air-Wand has at its forward end a pawl 45 engaging a ratchet wheel lfi fast with afeed roller '41 with which engages a co-operating feed roller- 48', the-slip (which may be of paper) being fed as indicated at- 49 between these tworollers, the forward end of the strip abut-ting against a cutting blade 50 which co-operates with a ledger blade 50", and a blade spring 5|" engaging in the teeth on the ratchet wheel 45' to prevent" reverse movement on that wheel; It will nowbe seen that when the electromagnet-42 receives impulse bythe closure of the switches S and thearmature '43 is drawn upwardly this results in causing'rotation of the roller 41" by the operation of the pawl 45 in theteeth '46. In order to continue thisoperation-for-a time su'flicient to advance the requisite length of strip material 48; the circuit of'the electrom-agne't lfiwhen once energised by the impulse referred. to is, maintained by a repeater circuit operating in the manner of the familiar bell" circuit. For this purpose there is fast with the ratchet wheel 4t and roller 41 a disc 52 having a recess 53in which is normally received a tongue 54 on a blade spring '54 having a'contact 55 to engage a contact 56 on a blade spring 51, the two-contacts55, being in this position held apart as is shown and these contacts forming aswitchizrthe circuit ofthe: electromagnet 42.

When ther-atchet 45 iscaused by the, initiating impulse applied to the electromagnet 42 to move the diso'52 the recess 53 is moved out of register with. the-tongues 54' and the clearance-between the contacts 55, 5%- is reduced; There is also provided a block 58 pivoted at 5B and having a recess 5!! receivingapin-5t onthe armature- 43 the nose of the blockhavingafinger 58 tooontrolthe position ofthe blade 51. When this armature is attracted upwardly by the electromagnet the block 58 is rocked about its pivot 59 to allow the blade 51 to move away from the blade 54 and s prevent the contacts 55, 56 from closing. When however the originating impulse has ceased so that the armature 43 is returned under the action of a spring 43' to its normal position then the pin Bl takes up its lost motion in the slot 69 and this causes the block 58 to rock and in turn to move the blade 51 towards the blade 54 and so to re-make the circuit. This operation will continue the armature being vibrated up and down and this in turn causing the feeding movement of the roller 4'! until when the recess 53 again registers with the tongue 54 the blade spring 54 is allowed to move away from the blade and so finally interrupts the circuit to bring the feeding operation to an end.

For the purpose of severing the strip when the required length has been advanced the operation of the knife 50 is controlled by a cam 62 having a swell 53 with an abrupt end and controlling a pin 64 on an arm 65 pivoted at 66 which at its forward end has a projection 66' engaging under the pivoted blade 50. This swell 63 during the latter part of the rotation of the feed roller 41 rocks the arm 65 to lift the blade 50 and allow the forward end of the strip 49 to pass between the blade and the ledger 50 and then at the momentthat the tongue 54- drops into the recess 53- (that-is attheend of. the strip feeding operation) the abrupt end of the swellreg-isterswith thepin 5'4- and allows thearm- 65 to rock back and so toallow the-blade 5!! quickly-todropte effect the severing operation. The mechanism described for feeding and severing the strip is conveniently housed within acasing ol which could ifdesired-be formed as indicated in chain dotted lines 68 with arecess to accommodate a roll of strip feeding material which is taken between; the rollers although this roll may beaccommodated on a separate bracket.

Referringnow to Figure 9, there is illustrated a modified arrangement in which instead of em ploying the pawl andratchet mechanism described in Figuresd-B, there is employed asmai! electric motor to drive a feed roller If! between which and a second roller-11 the strip Mistaken through a guide 59. A disc 12 fast with the roller 'lflhas a recess to accommodate alocking pin- 1-3 on a lever! pivotedat I5 andurged'by a spring 15 to bias the roller against the periphery of the disc 12. A. blade spring 1;! on the lever N has one contactmemberfs of a switch the other contact 593" of which is constituted by the core of an electromagnet 5B- which is energised by the initiating impulse already referred to. 'Whenthis impulseis received the contact 18 is attractedto the core of the electromagnet 19 andthis operation lifts the roller 13 out of the recess in the disc 12. This operation frees the disc from-restraint and the engagement between the contacts I8 and lil closes the energising circuit of the motor which is thus rotated; the roller 13 now rides upon the disc 12 which prevents the contacts 18, Ill from opening by the action of the spring "Mi until the recess in the roller 19 again registers with the pin l3 whereupon the spring It is allowed'to operate to separate the contacts 18, 18' and the motor comes to rest. The operation of the motor has resulted in rotationof the feed disc 151" and' hence of the feeding of'the paper strip to the severingknife indicated at '80; This knife 69 is alsocontrclled by the movement of" the lever 14 which at its forward end enters into-,a slot in the knife 8!] so that when the lever is rocked by the initiating impulse applied to the electromagnet 19 the knife is raised to allow the strip material to pass below it. When, as has been described, the pin 13 is allowed again to drop by its register in the recess in the disc 12, then this knife operates to sever the leading portion of the strip which has been fed forward.

In a modified arrangement, only a single wheeltype of counter is employed and each counter is provided with an operating cam and with a spring which is loaded as the wheel is advanced during the count; the series contacts to be controlled by the cams on the counter wheels are carried by supports adjustable about the counter wheels so that to effect a pro-setting the supports are adjusted to the required position; when the various wheels of the counter reach (during the count) a position corresponding to that .of the supports, then the various cams operate the switches to close the series circuit through the contacts for the purpose of say inserting by means of the apparatus of Figures 5-9 a slip in the delivery pile or stack; at the same time the springs are rendered .operative to return the counter wheels to the starting position.

In another modification which relates more especially to the strip feeding mechanism the strip may be cut from a length of material and taken by a gripper device which can grip the leading end of the strip and then swing to deposit the severed slip on to the articles on the delivery pile. Here again also the mechanism foroperating the cutting arrangements of the gripping device would be under the control of the switch mechanism regulated by the counting mechanism described.

Instead of severing the slips from a length of material, pre-cut slips may be employed.

What I claim is:

1. A counting mechanism for controlling an electric circuit and comprising in combination a counting device comprising a plurality of counter wheels gearing interconnecting the wheels, means to advance the counting wheels in relation to the passing of the articles to be counted, a pre-setting device comprising a plurality of wheels equal in number to the wheels of the counter, means to set the latter wheels to a normally stationary setting corresponding to the number of articles to be counted, a corresponding plurality of electric circuit-control switches in series, an operating cam associated with each of the wheels of the counting device and of the .pre-setting device, and a plurality of switch operating elements each bridging the cams associated with corresponding wheels of the counter and of the pre-setting device, the said operating elements rendering the switches operative only when the cams of the counting device reach a position corresponding to the position of the cams of the pre-setting device.

2. A counting mechanism for controlling an electric circuit and comprising in combination a counting device comprising a plurality of counter wheels, gearing interconnecting the wheels, means to advance the wheels as the articles to be counted pass, a pre-setting device comprising a plurality of wheels equal in number to the wheels of the counter, means to set the latter wheels to a normally stationary setting corresponding to the number of articles to be counted, a corresponding plurality of electric circuit control switches in series each switch comprising opposed blade springs, an operating cam associated with each of the wheels of the counting device and of the pre-setting device, a plurality of pivoted switch operating components each controlled conjointly by the two cams associated with the corresponding wheels of the counting device and the pre-setting device and each component having a contact strip disposed between the two blades of the switch to engage both only when the two cams are in a corresponding position.

3. A counting mechanism for controlling an electric circuit and comprising in combination a counting device comprising a plurality of counter wheels, gearing interconnecting the wheels, a constant stroke pawl and ratchet mechanism to advance the counting wheels in relation to the passing of the articles to be counted, a presetting device comprising a plurality of wheels equal in number to the wheels of the counter, means to set the latter wheels to a normally stationary setting corresponding to the number of articles to be counted, a corresponding plurality of electric circuit-control switches in series, an operating cam associated with each of the wheels of the counting device and of the pre-setting device, and a plurality .of switch operating elements each bridging the cams associated with corresponding wheels of the counter and of the presetting device, the said operating elements rendering the switches operative only when the cams of the counting device arrive at a position corresponding to the position of the cams of the pre-setting device.

OTTO EDLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

